▪️Significant victories for Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Seychelles as Africa heavyweight champion Karamba Kebe moves to the last 16 with Kenya’s Shaffi Bakari winning his first ever fight in the World Championships
5/12/2025
Eleven African boxers won their opening fights as 19 others fell by the wayside in Day One of Men’s World Boxing Championships at the Dubai Tennis Stadium on Thursday, December 4, 2025.
A big day for Rwanda’s five-man team. They made their World Championships debut with a bang starting with victory through light-welterweight Pacifique Niyonzima whose historic win over Zimbabwe’s Nyongoloza Ntandoyenkosi makes him the first ever Rwandese winner in the World Championships. Congrats Pacifique.
Uganda’s middleweight Abubakar Malindi and Mandela Cup middleweight champion Joshua Cousin of the Seychelles won their debut fights as both are taking part in the World Championships for the first time. Uganda is being represented by five boxers including Africa Zone 3 light-welterweight champion Farahat Manirola all of them making their debut in the World Championships.
Malindi won through a walkover while Cousin, who started representing the national team three years ago, stopped Tanzania’s rookie Enzi Kasilika in the first round.
What a day to remember for Kenya’s bantamweight Shaffi Bakari who won his first ever fight in the World Championships in his fourth appearance at the global event.
Shaffi outpointed Ethiopia’s Zekenya Kedir in the bantamweight round of 64 and now meets Spain’s top seed Lozano Serrano in the round of 32.The Kenyan policeman made his debut in the World Championships in 2017 and was also at the 2021 and 2023 World Championships without a win in all the three world tournaments.
Kenya’s head Musa Benjamin was satisfied with Shaffi’s sweet victory.
“For Shaffi against the Ethiopian it was simply about sticking to the basics, boxing at long range, making his opponent miss and no mixing it up with him we’re happy,” said Musa who explained why the first Kenyan in action, heavyweight Peter Abuti, lost to Kyrgyzstan’s southpaw Toktosun Bakyt in the round of 32.
“Abuti was slow off the blocks losing the first round making it difficult to come back.Got his rhythm half way second round when he started putting his punches together,” Musa told boxersworld.co.ke
Abuti said his southpaw opponent confused him.
“It was the first I met a southpaw I had difficulties in coping up but I’ll make amends,” said Abuti, a product of Mbotela Boxing Club’s famous coach Raphael Kamuya aka Kamwana.
Looking ahead to Shaffi’s next fight against top seed Lozano Serrano of Spain Musa said it they will be cautious and aggressive in their approach.
“Against the top seed, Shaffi will have to be sharp, quick in changing positions after firing so as to avoid the counters. He’s got the momentum now and he’s gonna fight till he drops.” Good luck to the Kenyan boxer.
Senegal’s 31-year-old Africa heavyweight champion Karamba Kebe recovered from a shaky first round to beat Cameroon’s Andre Tchoupa by a unanimous decision.
The southpaw French-based Kebe, who changed his citizenship five years ago to become a Senegalise national, was caught by Tchoupa’s cracking left hook on the jaw but he swallowed the punch showing no effect at all. Kebe, a silver and gold medallist in the 2023 and 2024 African Elite Championships, dominated the remaining two rounds to carry the day. He now meets Brazil’s Luan Kalil Paiva in the pre-quarters.
The other African winners were Mali’s lightweight Bathily Abdou Karim who beat Nepal’s Rocar Magar, Libya’s Okasha Muayid, Zimbabwe’s Murusenga Mandhlenkosi outpointed Malawi’s Makwinja Mphatso, Mozambican pro boxer Tiago Muxanga got a walkover, Uganda’s Abubaker Malindi won on a walkover, Rwanda’s Pacifique Niyonzima, Libya’s Khalida Ahmeedah beat Guinea’s Youssouf Diallo, Seychelles’ Joshua Cousin and Mali’s Traore Djibril beat Vinny Mandar of IBN-Italy.
Making his second appearance in the World Championships, Africa Zone 4 light-welterweight silver medallist Thabiso Dlamini lost on points to Stelios Kirsanidis of Greece. He was gracious in defeat.
“Losing is part of the sport we accept every decision made by the judges,” said Thabiso, one of the six boxers representing Eswatini in Dubai.
Despite the loss, Thabiso said he will continue working hard focusing on a major achievement in the ring.
“I didn’t box very well in the first round but then in the second round I came to the party, I was impressed with my overall performance and I won’t stop training until good things are coming my way, I’m taking it as a learning experience to do even better next time and special thanks to President Umar Kremlev for making sure that we are also part of the games and of course my country for giving me this opportunity,” said Thabiso.
